Seal means for slide fasteners



Sept.A 3, 41963 B. s. FAIRCHILDS SEAL MEANS FOR SLIDE FAsTENERs FiledJan. l?, 1962 FIG INVENTOR. BERTRAM S. FAIRCHILDS ATTORNEY United StatesPatent Ofi ice 3,102,570 Patented Sept. 3, 1963 3,102,570 SEAL MEANS FURSLIDE FASTENERS Bertram S. Fairchilds, 6921 NW. 7th Ave., Miami, Fla.Filed Jan. 17, 1962, Ser. No. 166,793 3 Claims. (Cl. 150-3) Thisinvention relates `to an improved sealing means for #gas and liquidtight closures of the double slide fastener type, adapted to lbe used asa closure means for flexible containers where it is desired `t close acontainer orVot-her structure in such manner as to prevent Ithe ingressor egress of water, gas or other fluids.

A primary 'object of the invention is to provide an irnproved sealingmeans which will at all times maintain a fluid tight connection Withrespect to the slide fasteners when the slide fasteners are joinedtogether.

The invention further comprises inner and outer conventional slidefasteners that are attached to the marginal edges of the water and gasproof receptacle and one marginal edge of the receptacle ycarries anenvelope open at one end while the other marginal edge carries aninflatable tube that is fittingly engaged into the envelope after theinner fastener has been joined s0 that the outer fastener can then be`joined and the tube inflated to fully expand the walls of the envelopeand the inflatable tube to completely fill the space between thefasteners in such manner that leakage will be prevented at all timesduri-ng the flexing of Ithe receptacle. Double slide fasteners haveheretofore been employed and means provided for attempting to seal thearea between the slide fasteners but, such devices have beenunsuccessful due `to the frequent flexing of the walls of thereceptacle, one such device being illustrated in Patent 2,641,037, lune9, 1953 wherein an inflatable tube has abutting engagement with a secondinflatable tube, permitting the abutting edges to disengage and due tofrequent operation of the yfasteners soon becomes worn and causing aleakage.

Novel features of construction and operation of the device will be more`clearly apparent during the course of the following description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein has beenillustrated a preferred form of the device and wherein like charactersof reference are employed to denote like parts throughout the severalfigures.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a receptacle having theinvention applied thereto and shown in the partially closed position.

FIGURE 2 is a section taken substantially on line 2-2 of FIGURE l, and

FIGURE 3 lis a view similar to FIGURE 2 but showing the fasteners andassociated parts in the spread or open position.

Referring specifically to the drawings, there has been illustrated areceptacle 5, such being formed of side walls 6, of water and gas proofmaterial. Connected to each of the marginal edges of the side walls 6are inner and outer strips of flexible water proof material 7. Thestrips 7 are stitched or otherwise connected to the side walls 6 andeach of the strips carry wing portions 8 of slide fasteners 9. The wings8 are stitched to the strips 7 as shown at 10. Each of the slidefasteners carry the usual slides 11, causing the teeth 12 to engage anddisengage as is customary in fasteners of this type.

Connected to one edge portion of the side walls 6 is a generallyelongated U-shaped envelope 13. The envelope 13 has flexible side Walls14 and the side walls 14 'carry a yconnecting web pontion 15 that isdisposed beneath the connected edge of one strip 7 and with the webbeing co-extensive with the connected ends of the strips 7 andsimultaneously stitched to the strips 7 and the marginal portion of theside Wall 6. Connected in a similar manner to the opposite `edge of theside Walls 6, as by a web portion 16, is an elongated hollow tube 17having flat side walls. During the closure operation of the opening ofthe receptacle, the tube 17 has fitting engagement between the sidewalls 14 of the envelope `13. The tube 17 is formed lof rubber or otherflexible material while the envelope 13 is likewise formed of rubber orother material that is water and gas tight so that the tube and theenvelope are inter-engaged when the device is closed. An inflating valve18 is connected to the tube 17 adjacent to the web 16 and this valveextends through an opening 19 in one marginal portion of one side wallof the envelope and also through an opening 2li formed in one strip 7 ofthe slide fasteners.

In the use of the device, when the receptacle is to be closed, the innerslide fastener 9v through lthe medium of the slide 11 is fully closed,the side Walls 14 having been brought together from the position ofFIGURE 3, fully embraces the tube 17. With the valve 18 threaded throughthe openings '19 and 2-0, the outer slide fastener is then broughttogether and closed by its slide 11. Air or other medium is then pumpedinto the tube 17 under pressure, expanding the tube against the sidewalls 14 of the envelope and compressing the envelope firmly forming avery positive sealing means for the opening of the receptacle thatmaintains its sealing action throughout all -degrees of flexing orhandling of -the receptacle. When the receptacle is to be opened, thevalve 18 is opened, permitting the pressure to exhaust from the tube 17at which time the outer slide fastener is operated to its `full openposition, and the envelope and the `tube disengaged, permitting accessto the slide fastener of the inner fastener device.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that a very novel form of sealhas been provided for closure means lfor flexible or other types ofreceptacle in order to prevent the entry of harmful `gases or moisturethat would ordinarily damage machine elements or other devices to beshipped in the container and with the closure being of the type that hasinner and outer slide fasteners and it has been dificult to seal suchreceptacles so Ifar as is known in prior art patents. The positioning ofthe envelopes 13 and the tube 17, eac-h being connected upon themarginal edges of the opening of the receptacle provides a quick andeasy seal that permits of a quick closure both inner and `outer slidefasteners and the expanding action of the tube 17, causing the wings 14to fully engage and compress against the slide fasteners, forming adefinite seal that will permit flexing of the receptacle in handling andthat may be open and closed a maximum number of times without `causingleaks. The device is simple in construction, easy to install andprovides a most desirable sealing means for receptacles of the type thatemploy slide fasteners for their closure.

It is to lbe understood that the invenion is not limted to the preciseconstruction shown, but that changes are `contemplated as readily fallwithin the spirit of the invention as shall be determined by the scopeof the subjoined claims,

Having described my invention what I `claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

l. A closure means for flexible water proof containers wherein thecontainer is provided with an elongated opening to permit ingress andegress to` the interior for articles yto -be stored and transportedtherein, the marginal edges of the opening being provided with inner andouter slide fasteners of the interlocking type, the slide fastenersbeing each stitched `to the marginal edges of the opening, a flexibleelongated envelope havy engaged.

2. Closure means for flexible water and gas tight containers wherein thecontainer is provided with an elon- `gated access opening to permitingress and egress to the interior for articles to be stored andtransported therein, inner and outer slide fasteners each havingmarginal edge portions that are stitched to the marginal edges of theopening, a relativ-ely wide flexible water proof envelope that is openupon one edge and having a flap portion that is stitched t-o onemarginal edge of the container opening, the envelope being ico-extensivewith the opening of the container, a iiexiblc relatively Wide tube thatis also provided with an end lap whereby to connect the tube to theopposite marginal edge of the opening, the tube also being co-extensiveto the opening of the container, the tube having flat side walls, thetube fittingly engaged -into the envelope after the inner slide fastenerhas been fully engaged and whereby the envelope covers the major area ofthe tube, a valve device carried by the tube and that projects throughapertures formed in the envelope and the outer slide fastener wherebythe tube may ybe pressurized to force the side walls of 3o the envelopeinto full sealing engagement with the slide fasteners after the outerslide fastener has been closed, the walls of the envelope vbeing forcedinto full seating and sealing engagement with the slide fasteners afterthe tube has been pressurized and whereby to fully seal the slidefasteners against entry of moisture or gasses during shipment. t

3. The structure according to claim 2 wherein the envelope is generallyU-shalped and wherein the ap of the envelope is stitched to the marginaledge 'of the container opening in laminated manner with respect to themarginal edge of the `opening and the marginal portions of the slidefasteners, the envelope being formed of moisture and gas proof material,the said tube having its flap portion in laminated connected relationtothe opposite edge `of the container lopening and "laminatedV withrespect to the marginal portions of the slide fasteners, the said tubebeing formed of expandable material whereby to expand the side walls ofthe envelope into sealing engagement with both the inner and outer slidefasteners, the flaps of the envelope and the tube being connected tofthe marginal edges of the opening of the container and the slidefasteners by common lines of stitching.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. A CLOSURE MEANS FOR FLEXIBLE WATER PROOF CONTAINERS WHEREIN THECONTAINER IS PROVIDED WITH AN ELONGATED OPENING TO PERMIT INGRESS ANDEGRESS TO THE INTERIOR FOR ARTICLES TO BE STORED AND TRANSPORTEDTHEREIN, THE MARGINAL EDGES OF THE OPENING BEING PROVIDED WITH INNER ANDOUTER SLIDE FASTENERS OF THE INTERLOCKING TYPE, EDGES OF THE OPENING, AFLEXIBLE ELONGATED ENVELOPE HAVING A FLAP PORTION THAT IS CONNECTED TOONE MARGINAL EDGE OF THE OPENING AND A FLEXIBLE ELONGATED TUBE THAT ISCONNECTED TO THE OPPOSITE MARGINAL EDGE OF THE OPENING, THE TUBEFITTINGLY ENGAGED INTO THE ENVELOPE WHEN THE SLIDE FASTENERS ARE ENGAGEDFOR CLOSING THE OPENING AND MEANS WHEREBY THE TUBE IS PRESSURIZED ANDEXPANDED TO FORCE THE ENVELOPE INTO CONTACTING SEALING ENGAGEMENT WITHTHE SLIDE AFTER THE SLIDE FASTENERS HAVE BEEN FULLY ENGAGED.